26 November 2013
A British climate risk specialist and Jeanette Fitzsimons, former co-leader of the Green Party, will be key speakers at the 2014 New Zealand Farm Forestry Association national conference being hosted by the Marlborough Tree Growers Association in Blenheim in April.
Julian Roberts, Executive Director of UK company Willis Agribusiness and Weather Risk, will speak about assessing the risks of a changing climate on farming and forestry. Jeanette Fitzsimons will outline her vision for the sustainable use of diverse forests.
"We aim to cover a lot of ground in farm forestry and landscape issues and have lined up top speakers for the opening and throughout the event," says conference co-chairman Paul Millen. The event will run from Friday 11 April to Tuesday 15 April and will be based at Clubs of Marlborough, Blenheim.
The theme of the conference is Diverse Landscapes – Planted by People that Grow Trees and our Economy. As much time as possible will be spent on field days and workshops throughout Marlborough, a region that can grow just about anything – from hazelnuts and olives to pine plantations and native forests.
Workshops include growing eucalypts for dry landscapes; new methods for forestry harvesting on steep slopes; and high country properties that combine forestry, native restoration and tourism.
Three field days focus on the Marlborough Sounds. Mr Millen says the Sounds are a unique part of New Zealand and the conference will highlight the need for integrated management of the area to allow sustainable economic land use for forestry, farming, tourism and aquaculture in balance with the environment.
The conference programme includes:
Queen Charlotte Sound: Restoring native biodiversity to the Marlborough Sounds A boat trip into the bays that the ferries pass by. Highlights include 40 years of native planting and pine removal on the Moore property in Tory Channel; the birdsong on predator-free Motuara Island with South Island saddlebacks, robins and kakariki; the Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust's multi-million dollar project to poison wilding pines; and a walk at Ship Cove in the footsteps of Captain James Cook and botanist Joseph Banks.
Pelorus Sound: Forestry and Farming within the Marlborough Sounds
Leaving from historic Havelock this trip features commercial harvesting of pine forests in a sensitive landscape; early durable eucalypt planting; mussel farming; and a peek into several bays with original native forests. Farm foresters Mike and Kristen Gerard are our hosts at their Hopai Bay property, a beef and sheep farm in the outer Sounds with pine, eucalypt and blackwoods, retired pasture and wilding pine control for native regeneration, and a Significant Natural Area Project.
Terra Firma: Diverse forestry landscapes of the Marlborough Sounds
For those who prefer bus to boat travel, the Terra Firma tour follows the Grove Arm of the Queen Charlotte Sound including Port Marlborough's export log yard at Shakespeare Bay; the mainland island bush regeneration project at Kaipupu Point established by volunteers and strong community support; the Shallcrass macrocarpa forest at Linkwater; the outstanding Outward Bound kahikatea stand and Tai Tane forest in the Mahikapawa Arm. Final stop is at the native and amenity plantings at Jefferswood in the Kaituna Valley.
Registrations for all or part of the conference are now open www.nzffa.org.nz/conference or contact Sandra Sewell, conference registrar, Tel 03 572 8081. Postal: 30 Cameron's Road, RD1 Havelock, Marlborough 7178. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Source: FFA media release